April proved to be a horrifying month in south London as 17 people were stabbed and six of the victims died.
The month saw a string of attacks in Croydon, Lewisham, Bromley, Southwark, Lambeth, Beckenham, Orpington, and Streatham.
Six people were stabbed and one man died in Croydon alone within the month.
- READ MORE: Man stabbed in broad daylight in Croydon
A spokesperson for the Met Police said the force is “doing all it can” to tackle violent crime, but that there are things everyone in society can do as “the responsibility lies with us all”.
They added that violent crimes continue to be a “top priority” for officers.
Below is a roundup of the stabbing incidents that Newsquest south London is aware of across south London in April.
Information about each incident is from the Metropolitan Police.
Croydon
Emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing in London Road in Croydon on April 14 at 5.45pm.
A man, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital.
Patrick Martin, 70, of Wellington Road, Croydon, was charged on April 15 with attempted murder and possession of a knife/bladed article.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on April 16.
The following day, on April 15, a fight broke out in Goldcrest Way in New Addington.
Officers were called to the scene at 4.35pm where three teenage boys, aged 15, 16, and 18, were found with stab injuries.
Police confirmed on April 16 that none of the boys were in a life-threatening condition.
Four other teenagers were arrested on suspicion of assault.
They all have been bailed pending further enquiries.
On April 16, a 27-year-old man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in New Addington.
Emergency services were called to Headley Drive at 3.20pm.
The victim was taken to a south London hospital and was discharged following treatment.
No arrests have been made and police enquiries continue.
On April 21, officers were called to stabbing reports in Leslie Grove Place shortly before 6.30pm.
A 39-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A special post-mortem examination found that injuries sustained may have been self-inflicted.
Police say efforts are still ongoing to locate his next of kin.
Three men were arrested following the incident, and they have all been released on bail.
Following the outcome of the special post-mortem, the investigation into the circumstances will be taken forward by South Area CID officers.
Lewisham
On April 13, police were called just after 4.05pm to a fight at the Moonshot Centre in Angus Street.
Teon Campbell-Pitter, 16, died after a stabbing at the community venue.
Two 15-year-old teenagers were charged with Teon’s murder.
Detectives are not seeking any further suspects.
On April 28, an 18-year-old man was taken to hospital after a stabbing in Lee High Road.
Officers say his condition is thought not to be life-threatening.
No arrests have been made and police enquires are ongoing.
Bromley
Emergency services were called to Mosslea Road shortly before 3.30pm on April 19.
A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital after being stabbed.
Officers say his condition was assessed as not life-threatening.
He was arrested on suspicion of affray.
He was then released from hospital and has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in mid-May.
Two other men, aged 19 and 27, were arrested on suspicious of grievous bodily harm and taken into custody at a south London police station.
Both have since been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in mid-May.
Orpington
Police and ambulance crews were called to reports of a stabbing at a home in Mickleham Close on April 28 just before 1.25pm.
A man, aged in his 30s, was treated at the scene and rushed to hospital with stab injuries.
His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.
No arrests have been made and police enquiries are ongoing.
Southwark
Four people were found stabbed to death in Delaford Road at around 1.40am on April 25.
Two of the victims are Denton Burke, 58, and partner Dolet Hill, 64, who lived together.
Tanysha (or Rachquel) Ofori-Akuffo, 45, who is Dolet Hill's daughter and lived in Kennington was also killed.
Samantha Drummonds, 27, who is Tanysha's daughter and lived in Forest Hill is the fourth victim.
Jacques, from Minard Road in Lewisham, was subsequently charged with four counts of murder.
Lambeth
Emergency services were called to a stabbing in Stockwell Road on Monday, April 4.
The victim was taken to hospital and his injury were not life-threatening.
Donovan Reid, of Cedars Road, was charged with section 18 wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
He appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on April 9.
Streatham
Emergency services were called to a fight in Babington Road on April 26 shortly after 9pm.
Two men were taken to hospital after being stabbed.
The two men, aged 30 and 43, were taken to hospital where their conditions were assessed as not life-threatening. There have been no arrests.
Police enquires were ongoing as of April 27.
- READ MORE: Lewisham man accused of murder of four family members in Southwark appears at Old Bailey
Newsquest south London asked the Met Police what is being done to tackle knife crime, and how it can be prevented going forwards.
A spokesperson said the force is “doing all it can”, but that there are things everyone in society can do as “the responsibility lies with us all”.
The full statement said: “Violent crime continues be the top priority for everyone in the Met.
“We are doing all we can to tackle it, including having a strong and visible presence in areas with higher levels of violence, targeting the drivers of violent crime including drugs, and focusing on prevention and diversion.
“Our relentless activity is having an impact and violent crime is down in London with reductions across serious violent crime categories.
“Last year (Jan-Dec 2021) compared to the same period prior to the pandemic in 2019, we saw knife crime down by 32 per cent with 4,914 fewer offences; gun crime down by 35 per cent meaning 741 fewer offences and robbery down by 44 per cent meaning 16,170 fewer victims.
“To drive violence down we must work alongside communities and partners in what must be a team effort in tackling violence - we know that we cannot tackle violent crime alone.
“It needs everyone to work together. “There are things that everyone in society can do.
“The responsibility lies with us all.
“Whether it is telling police about those who carry weapons or talking to young people about the dangers of knife crime, what we all do can make a difference.
“It could be as small as providing crucial intelligence about what is happening in your area to the independent charity Crimestoppers – it could save a life.”
Knife crime was down by 32 per cent with 4,914 fewer offences in 2021 compared to 2019, according to Met Police statistics.
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